The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1875

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1734, 4 September 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and the Morning News.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1875

ftr thu oUBe tliat iwii *^u,j>; Kor the wruui,1 U«| m . v rc-u "or tha (niiirc lv utt alktiuico AWd lib* BdCiJ tb.-' ■»« -%r

Mr. Macau drew s Bills should clear away the cobwebs with which men like Mr Dargaville, Mr Firth, and others have allowed themselves to be caught. Where now is their theory of "the first step," and "the thin end of the wedge" on which they relied ? The fact stands nakedly forth that the Ministry merely intend getting the whole power into their own hands, and the whole colony under a corrupt and unreformed Assembly sitting in an out-of-the-way corner of the colony. They intend also taking £250,000 out of the Land Revenue to meet their necessities, under the pretext of giving £140,000 out of it to the Road Boards, Municipalities, and out districts. If they do so this year, and there is no certainty they will even do that, what chance ia there of getting ifc next? Why too can they not give it without making conditions with the people as to how they shall govern themselves, if they are honest in their designs and only desire the public welfare ? The Ministry know public opinion is against them. They are afraid to test it at the elections arid prefer putting the colony to an expense of £2,000 a week debating the matter in an Assembly nearly defunct and quite demoralised. So far as Auckland is concerned, an .article in the Herald this morning shows convincingly how seriously she above all other provinces is to suffer. All her revenue is to be taken, and a miserable pittance mercifully accorded to her at the pleasure of Ministers, who can give it or take it away as she may behave well or ill in their eyes. There can be no cause of disunion now among Auckland men. Eor that we should luank Mr Macandrew and his motion, which has scattered to the winds all the pretexts on which disunion has been based. It is for Auckland how to say how she -ft ill act. Her members' hands will be greatly strengthened by the address sent and still being sent to them. Let every elector who can sign, the address by all means do so. But let us not stop there. Let us show the Government our unanimity if necessary by organising. The n they will see that we are really strong and will not dare continue to despise our voices. In the olden colonial days there were " Minnte Men" whosecombined force proved irresistible. If the General Government are bent on forcing us to the point, let them sso that we too can enrol, and that the great moral force of a powerful, ready, and compact organisation will be opposed to them, in the name of the Qaeen, and supported, we ieel bound to hope and believe, by the Governor, whom they delude into the belief that they are acting on behalf of the people. A thousand " Minute Men" with names openly enrolled, and moving with quiet resolution and perfect order, would be the best reply, and. one which his Excellency mußt feel would, warrant his refusing hia signature to the Act*

even if it were in its present shape to ultimately pass. We do not believe it will pass, but if there be as the session rolls on the slightest chance of its doing so, we shall hear the cry resounding, and all that is manly in tbe province will rally to the support of the Superintendent and the Council, whose bounden duty it will be to resist to the utmost of their power this base attempt to suppress them without the fall, free, and deliberate consent of the people.